Bears

Hoge: Analyzing The Bears’ 2014 Schedule

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(CBS) — We’ve known the Bears’ 2014 opponents since the end of last season, but we now know when all those games will be played.

There are a number of quirks in this year’s slate, including:

– The Bears will open at home for the fifth straight season. They are 4-0 in the last four years opening up at home. This will also be the third year in a row they open up at home against an AFC opponent.
– The Bears are scheduled to play five primetime games in 2014. They were 4-1 in primetime last season.
– The Bears will play their first Thanksgiving game since 2004 and first in Detroit since 1999.
– That Thanksgiving game will be played on CBS, as part of new rules that allow select all-NFC games to be played on CBS and select all-AFC games to be played on FOX.
– The Bears will play back-to-back Thursday games. A week after playing on Thanksgiving, the Bears will host the Cowboys on the NFL Network. The Cowboys, of course, will also be coming off their usual Thanksgiving game so both teams will have equal rest.
– The Bears will play three straight home games in December.
– For the second straight season, the Bears have no games scheduled in the Sunday late-afternoon time slot. Last year, they didn’t play a late-afternoon game until Week 17 when their game against the Packers was flexed from Noon seven days before kickoff.

Here’s a game-by-game breakdown of the Bears’ 2014 schedule:

Week 1: vs Buffalo Bills – Sunday, Sept. 7 – Noon – FOX

Usually this game would be on CBS, but the NFL’s new “cross flex” scheduling rules puts this one on FOX.

Week 2: at San Francisco 49ers – Sunday, Sept. 14 – 7:30 PM – NBC

The Bears will be happy to help open Levi’s Stadium. They may even petition to help knock down Candlestick the night before the game.

Last meeting: Nov. 12, 2012 – 49ers 32, Bears 7 in San FranciscoKey additions: S Antoine BetheaKey losses: S Donte Whitner, RB Anthony Dixon, CB Carlos RogersOutlook: Not only do the Bears never win in San Francisco, they usually get blown out. The good news? This one will be played in the 49ers’ new stadium in Santa Clara. NBC has to be drooling over this early-season matchup between two of the NFC’s best teams.Way-too-early pick: 49ers

Week 3: at New York Jets – Monday, Sept. 22 – 7:30 PM – ESPN

Back-to-back primetime games for the Bears, but they’ll get an extra day to prepare as they go coast-to-coast.

Week 8: at New England Patriots – Sunday, Oct. 26 – Noon – FOX

Trip to Foxboro concludes first-half stretch that includes five road games, three of which are against 2013 playoff teams.

Last meeting: Dec. 12, 2010 – Patriots 36, Bears 7 in ChicagoLast meeting in New England: Nov. 26, 2006 – Patriots 17, Bears 13Key additions: CB Brandon Browner, CB Darrelle Revis, WR Brandon LaFellKey losses: CB Aqib Talib, RB LaGarrette Blount, LB Brandon SpikesOutlook: The Patriots lost Aqib Talib and somehow got better at corner. This is one of the Bears’ hardest games of the year and it would be hard to count on a victory.Way-too-early pick: Patriots

Week 9: BYE

Never hurts to have the bye week come right in the middle of the season.

Week 10: at Green Bay Packers – Sunday, Nov. 9 – 7:30 – NBC

This will mark the fourth year in a row (and fifth time in the last six years) the Bears’ trip to Green Bay will be played in primetime.

Last meeting in Green Bay: Nov. 4, 2013 – Bears 27, Packers 20Key additions: DE Julius Peppers (Bears)Key losses: C Evan Dietrich-Smith, WR James Jones, RT Marshall Newhouse, S M.D. Jennings (Bears)Outlook: Last year’s win at Lambeau wouldn’t have happened if Aaron Rodgers didn’t get hurt on the first series of the game. The Bears can win without that happening again, but they’ll be the underdogs.Way-too-early pick: Packers

Week 11: vs Minnesota Vikings – Sunday, Nov. 16 – Noon – FOX

Last meeting in Chicago: Sept. 15, 2013 – Bears 31, Vikings 30Key additions: Head coach Mike Zimmer, DT Linval Joseph, CB Captain Munnerlyn, DT Corey Wootton (Bears)Key losses: DE Jared Allen (Bears), RB Toby GerhartOutlook: The Vikings’ defense should take a step forward with Mike Zimmer, but this is still a team without a quarterback, which puts them behind the three other teams in the NFC North.Way-too-early pick: Bears

Week 12: vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Sunday, Nov. 23 – Noon – FOX

Lovie Smith and Josh McCown return to Chicago in what will locally be one of the most anticipated games of the year.

Last meeting: Oct. 23, 2011 – Bears 24, Buccaneers 18 in LondonLast meeting in Chicago: Sept. 21, 2008 – Buccaneers 27, Bears 24Key additions: Head coach Lovie Smith, CB Alterraun Verner, DE Michael Johnson, QB Josh McCown (Bears), C Evan Dietrich-SmithKey losses: CB Darrelle Revis, FB Erik LorigOutlook: It will be interesting to see if Josh McCown is actually the Bucs’ starting quarterback when this game comes around, but there’s a chance he’ll go head-to-head against his good friend Jay Cutler. Tampa made some great offseason signings and still have the draft to improve even more, but with this game being played at Soldier Field, it’s still one the Bears should win.Way-too-early pick: Bears

The Lions were expected to host either the Dolphins or Bills on Thanksgiving, but the new “cross flex” scheduling gave CBS a much better matchup.

Last meeting in Detroit: Sept. 29, 2013 – Lions 40, Bears 32Key additions: Head coach Jim Caldwell, WR Golden Tate, S James IhedigboKey losses: DE Willie Young (Bears), WR Nate BurlesonOutlook: Detroit has become a harder place to leave with a win in recent years and this season will be no different.Way-too-early pick: Lions

Week 14: vs Dallas Cowboys – Thursday, Dec. 4 – 7:25 PM – NFL Network

The Bears and Cowboys meet for the third year in a row and fourth time in the last five years.

Last meeting: Dec. 9, 2013 – Bears 45, Cowboys 28 in ChicagoKey additions: DT Henry Melton (Bears), DT Terrell McClain, QB Brandon WeedenKey losses: DE DeMarcus Ware, DT Jason HatcherOutlook: The Cowboys haven’t had a great offseason thus far and need a good draft next month. Considering what the Bears did to these guys at Soldier Field last year, you would think they’d handle them this season, but that’s not always how it works out in the NFL.Way-too-early pick: Bears

Week 15: vs New Orleans Saints – Monday, Dec. 15 – 7:30 PM – ESPN

The Bears get 10 days to prepare for their third consecutive nationally televised game.

Last meeting: Oct. 6, 2013 – Saints 26, Bears 18 in ChicagoKey additions: S Jairus Byrd, FB Erik Lorig, CB Champ BaileyKey losses: RB Darren Sproles, S Roman Harper, DE Will Smith, CB Malcolm Jenkins, LB Jonathan Vilma, C Brian de la Puente (Bears).Outlook: The Saints’ revamped defense caused the Bears problems at Soldier Field last year, while Drew Brees completed 82.9 percent of his passes and Jimmy Graham caught 10 passes for 135 yards. New Orleans should be just as good this season and the Bears’ chances of winning this game will probably depend on their defensive upgrades. If the new pass rushers can get after the Brees, the Bears can win.Way-too-early pick: Saints

Week 16: vs Detroit Lions – Sunday, Dec. 21 – Noon – FOX

The home finale is also the first of two huge divisional games to end the season.

Last meeting in Chicago: Nov. 10, 2013 – Lions 21, Bears 19Key additions: Head coach Jim Caldwell, WR Golden Tate, S James IhedigboKey losses: DE Willie Young (Bears), WR Nate BurlesonOutlook: The Bears lost to the Lions twice last season, which is pretty much unacceptable at Halas Hall. Detroit should have won the NFC North in 2013 and figure to be a smarter team in 2014 under Jim Caldwell.Way-too-early pick: Bears

Week 17: at Minnesota Vikings – Sunday, Dec. 28 – Noon – FOX

A heated field is currently being installed at TCF Bank Stadium for late-December games like these.

Last meeting in Minnesota: Dec. 1, 2013 – Vikings 23, Bears 20Key additions: Head coach Mike Zimmer, DT Linval Joseph, CB Captain Munnerlyn, DT Corey Wootton (Bears)Key losses: DE Jared Allen (Bears), RB Toby GerhartOutlook: The Bears won the last meeting between these two teams at TCF Bank Stadium and as long as they aren’t kicking field goals on second down, they should win this one too.Way-too-early pick: Bears

Way-too-early projected record: 10-6

Adam Hoge covers the Bears for CBSChicago.com and is a frequent contributor to 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter at @AdamHoge.